Combined cover and lever-operated clamping ring for drums



y 3, 1956 w. F. PUNTE 2,753,203

COMBINED COVER AND LEVER-OPERATED CLAMPING RING FOR DRUMS Filed Nov. 9,1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. PUNTE ATTO R NE Y5 y 3, 1956w. F. PUNTE 2,753,203

COMBINED COVER AND LEVER-OPERATED CLAMPING RING FOR DRUMS Filed Nov. 9,1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. PUNTE 41%, m, mm #127ATTORNEYS .ing of the cover.

United States Patent C(BMBHNED COVER Al ll) LEVER-OPERATED CLAMlPlNGRENE FOR DRUMIS William F. Punte, Chicago, Ill., assignor to ContinentalCan Company, inc, New York, N. Y a corporation of New York ApplicationNovember 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,783 8 Claims. (Cl. 292256.69)

The following specification is a detailed description of novelimprovements in a combinedcover and leveroperated clamping ring fordrums. The drums for which the invention has been designed are metal orfiber board containers having an open end which is adapted to receive aliquid-proof closure or cover. It is common practice to apply a closureto the filled drum after which a clamping ring is applied around thecover in order'to hold it in sealed position during storage andtransportation. When it is intended to open the drum, some means must beprovided for releasing the clamping ring and thereafter unsealing thecover. Usually it is necessary to unseal the cover as a separateoperation after the clamping ring has been released and removed.

The present invention is intended to provide broadly speaking, a unitaryor combined cover and clamping ring. The ring is fitted around the drumat the same time the cover is applied. Means are provided to effectrapid closing of the clamping ring with consequent sealln opening thedrum, a reverse movement provides for rapid or snap-action release ofthe clamp, leaving the ring in position for advantageous manipulation inunsettling the cover proper.

One of the objects of my invention is toprovide an efliciently unitarycover and clamping ring.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for effectingthe clamping of the ring.

A still further object of my invention is to provide positive means forrapidly unclamping or releasing the ring with a snap-action.

An additional object is to provide a ring which may be operated eitherto clamp the cover or to be unclamped without the use of separateoperating tools, but solely by manipulation of the parts carried by thering.

Among the objects of the invention is included the provision in aclamping ring of means for positively latching it in closed position.

As indicating the novel features of the invention I have, by Way ofexample, illustrated the preferred form in the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. l is side elevation of the cover and ring in clampingposition, parts being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the clamping ring on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation of the clamping ring with the endsseparated;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the clamping ring on theline 5---:'3 of 4 with the lever in the opposite position from line 3-3of Fig. I;

Fig. 6 is an exploded side elevation of the ends of the clamping ring.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the locking cam;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation with parts broken away of the clamping meanspartly closed; and

2,753,203 ll' atented July 3, 6

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Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of a modified form ofclamping ring.

Briefly, the novel features include a cover having an adjustable butunitary clamping ring both being applied and removed from the drumtogether. The cover is held in place for constricting the ring bymechanical means. These means draw the ends of the ring together intooverlapping relation and the operating means are then latched in placeagainst accidental release.

Cam action is utilized in the closing movement. It is also a materialfactor in providing for quick snap-action in unclamping the ring. Thering is then free to be lifted over the end of the drum with the coverand thus unseal the latter from the drum.

The invention is shown as applied to a. drum 11. This may be either ofsheet metal or a composite article of a drum having fiber side Walls anda metal chime at the open end. The side wall of the drum 11 has an innercurl 12. A groove 13 extends around the drum spaced from the curl 12 andis useful in positioning and retaining the cover in sealed position. Thecover 14 consists of a sheet metal disk suitably grooved forreinforcement. The edge of the cover has a groove 15, on the lower sideof which is a rib 16. Above the groove the cover ends in a lip 17.

A locking band 18 is held in the groove 15 between the rib 16 and lip 17at all times. This is accomplished by providing an upper flange 19extending from the left end of the band 18, as shown in Fig. 6 to withina short distance of the right end. This flange 19 has a sliding fit inthe groove 15 over the greater portion of the circumference of the cover14.

A lower flange 20, also part of the locking band 18, is receivedopposite the groove 13 of the drum and in the clamping operation isconstricted to lie within the groove, thus drawing down the cover intosealing position.

The left end 21 of the band 18 as shown in Fig. 6, is plain with theexception that it is provided with a hole 22 to receive a rivet 23. Theright end 24 of the band 18 has an irregularly shaped opening 25.. Theopening or aperture 25 has longitudinaledge 26 parallel to the loweredge of the band.

The aperture 25 also has a transverse straight Wall or edge 27 at rightangles to the inner end of the edge cam rests.

The operating means for constricting the ends of the clamping ringcomprises a lever pivoted on the rivet 23 on the left end of the band 18and carrying two irregularly shaped plates, one of which serves as a cam(see Fig. 3).

The back plate 29 is rectangular with circular ends. It is longer thanthe side edge of the opening 25 and is carried on the rivet 23 andspaces the two ends of the band.

A cam plate 30 is provided of the same general rectangular form as backplate 29. The cam plate 30 is fitted to the front face of back plate 29,as shown in Fig. 7. The overall length of cam plate 30 is the same asthe edges 26 and 27, as indicated in Fig. 9. Both plates 29 and 30 arefastened together on the rivet 23 on end 21 of the band and also by afloating rivet 31.

The cam plate 30 rests in the opening 25. By resting one circular end inthe juncture between the edges 26 and 27, the opposite curved end willtravel along the arcuate edge 23 between positions parallel to the edges26 and 27. When the plate 30 moves from parallelism with the edge 26 toparallelism with the transverse edge 27, the right end 24 of the band isfree to move having a flared compressible skirt.

to the right, while the lower end of the plate 30 travels to the left ofthe longitudinal edge 26 and the opposite end moves transversely of theband until the plate has completed a movement of 180 degrees in aclockwise direction. Since the plates 29 and 30 are held by the rivet23, in definite position with respect to the left end 21 of the band 18,this results in an expanding movement in which the right end 24 of theband moves to the right in Fig. 9 by a distance equal to the line ofcenters between the'rivet 23 and the rivet 31.

The means for rotating the cam plate 36 consists of a lever 32. Thislever is held at one point by the rivet 23 and is also attached firmlyto plates 29 and 30 by means of rivet 31. One end 33 of the lever 32 iscircular in form and substantially covers the opening 25 in the rightend 24 of locking band 18. The throughrivet 23 fastens the lever andplates together. It also passes through the left end 21 of the band andis loosely pivoted in the hole 22.

A finger hold 34 forms the free end of the lever 32 and is slightlyoffset for clearance, as shown in Fig. 5. The lever 32 has an inwardlyraised projection or button 35 which fits in a depression 36 on thelower left hand corner of the right end of the band when the lever isextended to the left in the clamping operation. The lever is thereforelatched against inadvertent dislodgment.

In this position the cam plate 30 extends to the left of thethrough-rivet 23 and holds the two ends 21, 24 of the locking band inposition of maximum overlap and constriction. By springing the fingerhold 34 outwardly, the projection 35 is lifted out of the depression 36and the finger hold may then be given a partial rotation of 180 degreesaround the through-rivet 23. This movement relaxes the tension on theends of the band 18 and allows them to separate. In the final movementthe cam plate 30 gives a quick and maximum travel for the right end 24by which the locking ring is sprung away from the side wall of the drum.At the same time the upper flange 19 moves outwardly in the groove 15 ofthe cover, without however, being disengaged from the groove.

The cover and the locking band remain associated in all positions ofuse. When they are applied over the open end of the drum, with theattached lever extending to the right, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, thelocking band slips readily over the side wall of the drum. Rotation ofthe lever up and to the left into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3,causes the cam plate 30 to travel along the arcuate edge 28 to the leftas shown in Fig. 9. When the line of centers 23, 31 is parallel to thelower edge of the band, the ends 21 and 24 overlap to the maximum amountand the band is constricted. The final movement latches the projection35 in the depression 36.

The band is therefore clamped securely over the side wall of the drum.In this operation, the flange 19 fits closer within the groove 15, theflange 20 is pulled into the groove 13, and thus seals the cover 14 inplace.

The unclarnping operation is effected by movement of the lever 32 fromthe position shown in Fig. 1 upwardly and over into the horizontalposition shown in Fig. 4. This relieves the compression between the ends21 and 24, allowing them to expand. The band 18 is thus spread, althoughthe upper flange is still held within the groove 15. The spreadingoperation permits the lower flange 20 of the band to clear the side wallof the drum.

The clamping band can then be readily lifted to unseal the cover fromthe end of the drum.

Fig. illustrates the invention as applied to a cover The cover 14 has anintegral depending skirt 37 which has been slotted to allow for a normalflare. In the sealing operation the cover rests on the upper run of thecontainer and the resilient flared skirt compressed by the band 18. Theband has the upper flange 19 sufliciently long to overlie the edge ofthe cover in the extended or open position. The lower flange 20 is clearof the side wall of the drum in the open position but fits closely intothe groove 13 when compressed. In both positions the flange 20 holds thelower edge of the slotted skirt.

Once assembled, the combined cover and locking band are manipulated asone article. The band with the flared skirt is fitted loosely around thedrum and the ends of the band constricted as shown in Figs. 4, 9, and 1.This causes the lower flange to engage in the groove 13 and at the sametime compress the skirt to a fit close around the drum.

While the preferred form of my invention has been illustrated anddescribed for the purpose of example, minor changes in material,proportions and arrangement of the parts can be carried out withoutdeparting from the essential features of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

l. A combined cover and captive locking band for a container comprisinga cover portion, a locking band having overlapping ends and a flangeadjustable around the cover, the outer end of the band having anaperture forming a plurality of angularly disposed bearing surfaces, apivot journaled in the inner end of the band, a plate on the pivotunderlying the aperture in the outer end of the band, a cam on the pivotand in the said aperture, a lever on the pivot overlying the outer endof the band and a rivet for holding the lever, the plate and the camtogether for simultaneous rotation.

2. A combined cover and captive locking band for a container comprisinga cover portion having a peripheral groove, a locking band havingoverlapping ends and a flange adjustably held in said groove, the outerend of the band having an aperture forming a plurality of angularlydisposed bearing surfaces, a pivot journaled in the inner end of theband, a plate on the pivot underlying the aperture in the outer end ofthe band, a cam on the pivot and in flie said aperture, a lever on thepivot overlying the outer end of the band and a rivet for holding thelever, the plate and the cam together for simultaneous rotation.

3. A combined cover and captive locking band for a container comprisinga cover portion, a locking band having overlapping ends and a flangeadjustable around the cover, the outer end of the band having anaperture with two right-angular edges connected by an arcuate edge, apivot journaled in the inner end of the band, a plate on the pivotunderlying the aperture in the outer end of the band, a cam on the pivotand in the said aperture, a lever on the pivot overlying the outer endof the band and a rivet for holding the lever, the plate and the camtogether for simultaneous rotation.

4. A combined cover and captive locking band for a container comprisinga cover portion having a peripheral groove, a locking band havingoverlapping ends, and a flange adjustably held in said groove, the outerend of the band having an aperture with two right-angular edgesconnected by an arcuate edge, a pivot journaled'in the inner end of theband, a plate on the pivot underlying the aperture in the outer end ofthe band, a cam on the pivot and in the said aperture, a lever on thepivot overlying the outer end of the band and a rivet for holding thelever, the plate and the cam together for simultaneous rotation.

5. A combined cover and captive locking band for a container comprisinga cover portion, a locking band having overlapping ends and a flangeadjustablearound the cover, the outer end of the band having an aperturewith one longitudinal bearing edge, one transverse bearing edge and anarcuate edge connecting said longitudinal and transverse bearing edges,a pivot journaled in the inner end of the band, a plate on the pivotunderlying the aperture in the outer end of the band, a cam on thepivot, said cam having two spaced ends each. adapted to bear against anedge of the aperture, a lever on the pivot overlying the outer end ofthe band and a rivet for holding the lever, the plate and the camtogether for simultaneous rotation.

6. A combined cover and captive locking band for a container comprisinga cover portion, a locking band having overlapping ends and upper andlower flanges, the upper flange adjustable around the cover, and thelower flange movable into engagement with the sidewall of the drum, theouter end of the band having an aperture forming a plurality ofangularly disposed bearing surfaces, a pivot journaled in the inner endof the band, a cam on the pivot and in said aperture, a lever on thepivot overlying the outer end of the band and a fastening for holdingthe lever and the cam together for simultaneous rotation.

7. A combined cover and captive locking band for a container comprisinga cover portion, a locking band having overlapping ends and a flangeadjustable around the cover, the outer end of the band having anaperture forming a plurality of angularly disposed bearing surfaces, apivot journaled in the inner end of the band,

a cam on the pivot and in the said aperture, a lever on the pivotoverlying the outer end. of the band and a fastening for holding thelever and the cam together for simultaneous rotation, the bearingsurfaces being so formed that the cam presses against a surface duringthe latter portion of the unlocking movement of the lever.

8. A combined cover and captive locking band for a container comprisinga cover portion, a locking band having overlapping ends and a flangeadjustable around the cover, the outer end of the band having anaperture forming a plurality of angularly disposed bearing surfaces, apivot journalled in the inner end of the band, a cam on the pivot and inthe said aperture, a lever on the pivot overlying the outer end of theband and a fastening for holding the lever and the cam together forsimultaneous rotation and interengaging latch means on the lever and theouter end of the band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,245,532 Severy June 10, 1941 2,313,459 Van Horn Mar. 9, 1943 2,493,204Mauer Jan. 3, 1950

